I felt a tap on my shoulder, jolting me from sleep. My eyelids fluttered as I tried to fight off the remnants of a dream. When I finally opened my eyes, I saw Nadir's familiar face hovering above me.
"Nadir?" I mumbled, my voice thick with sleep.
"Vra, my princess," Nadir responded with a soft smile. "Arise and shine. The king seeks your presence."
I frowned and sat up, pushing the heavy covers off me. "For what again? I saw him two days ago. Why do I have to see him again this soon?"
Nadir shook her head gently, her expression patient as always. "The king wants you to participate in the hunting sport today."
I blinked at her, my surprise evident. "Hunting? My father has always prevented me from such things. What is he planning?" My mind raced with possibilities, none of them making any sense.
"I do not understand," I continued, more to myself than to Nadir. "For seasons he has forbidden me from learning archery, and now he is inviting me to hunt. That is very strange."
Nadir reached out, smoothing a stray lock of hair from my face. "I am sure the king has your best interest at heart."
I snorted, unable to mask my skepticism. "Best interest, my foot! Do you have a clue about this change?"
Nadir hesitated, her eyes reflecting a mix of concern and loyalty. "I believe the reason the king had prevented you from archery and weapons is because he thought you were too fragile to handle them."
Her words stung more than I cared to admit. "Fragile," I muttered, tasting the bitterness of the word. I had always been more than just a princess confined to silk gowns and diplomatic smiles. I wanted to prove myself, to show that I was capable of more than what my father believed.
I said, "What about magic? Was I too weak to have learned that too?"
Nadir coughed and cleared her throat. "Now you are old enough to do as you wish, my princess. I feel your father is eager to show you what the hunting sport is all about. It is not as grand as they make it out to be."
I sighed, "I shall go and see what he has planned for me."
Nadir hesitated, then asked, "Do you think the king will change his mind concerning you marrying Philippe?"
I shook my head. "I do not know, Nadir."
Nadir pursed her lips thoughtfully. "Apart from his...flaws, I think he is more suitable for you."
I frowned, puzzled. "In what way?"
Nadir's eyes softened with sympathy. "I think the king specially picked Philippe for you. He was going to marry the youngest daughter of the Horseblood family, the third most powerful family in all of the Perest kingdom. Think about it, my princess. Lord Philippe is from a powerful background. With such strong backing behind you, the people will not rebel against you when your father finally hands over."
I sighed, my duty pressing heavily on my heart. "I do not know, Nadir. I want to marry for love. I know you may say I am being foolish, but I want to be with someone that loves me, and whom I will love in return."
Nadir's gaze softened further. "We do not always get the one our heart longs for. But Lord Philippe is not all that bad. He is very handsome. I have heard rumors that some women fainted because of his beauty."
I scoffed, a hint of defiance in my voice. "It could be that they fainted because of his bad smell."
Nadir raised an eyebrow, amused. "Where did you hear that from?"
I rolled my eyes. "I have talked to him before."
Nadir laughed, a light, tinkling sound. "My princess, that was ages ago. Trust me, he is the perfect man for you."
A line furrowed on my forehead. He can't be finer than my stranger, my perfect stranger with red eyes. The thought of him made my heart ache with longing. Her stranger and the male fairy she encountered yesterday had red eyes, but they were not the same people. She could sense her stranger wasn't a fairy, neither was he a human. There was something intriguing about him, too bad she couldn't see him again.
"Are you with me, princess?" Nadir's voice broke through my reverie. She looked concerned, having noticed my blank stare.
I blinked, shaking off the thoughts of my mysterious stranger. "Help me dress, Nadir."
As Nadir assisted me, my thoughts drifted back to Philippe and the stranger. Philippe, with his noble blood and impeccable lineage, seemed like the perfect match on paper. But I couldn't shake the feeling that my heart yearned for something more—something that Philippe could never provide. His degrading flaws, his arrogance, and the air of superiority that surrounded him were hard to ignore.
Nadir's words echoed in my mind. "We do not always get the one our heart longs for." But why couldn't I have both? Why couldn't I find love and fulfill my duty?
__________________________
Alita arrived dressed in a stunning red gown with a royal blue cloak draped elegantly around her shoulders. The cloak, embroidered with golden threads, shimmered in the sunlight as she made her way to the courtyard. Her father, King Aric, stood waiting with several guards and three magnificent horses, including her favourite horse, Maya.
Bowen, standing at the far end of the line, watched as Alita curtsied to her father. His heart skipped a beat. "My God, I have missed her," he thought, feeling his spirits lift at her presence.
Alita approached the king and said, "Father, I am here."
King Aric smiled warmly. "You look beautiful, princess."
"Thank you, Father," Alita replied, her voice filled with warmth.
King Aric stepped aside, revealing a young man standing behind him. "I want you to meet Philippe Fairybug."
Philippe stepped forward and bowed deeply. "Greetings, my princess."
Alita was taken aback. Philippe had grown into a fine young man with silver hair that glinted in the light and striking purple eyes. His body was lithe, not overly muscular but well-built, giving him a graceful presence.
"You have grown to be such a beautiful person," Philippe said, his voice smooth and earnest. "I am honored to stand before such a perfect beauty."
Alita blushed, caught off guard by his compliment. "I wasn't informed you were coming too. Forgive my earlier reaction to your presence."
Philippe smiled, his eyes twinkling. "I understand, my princess. Your father wanted this meeting to be a surprise."
"Well, I was certainly surprised," Alita admitted, her initial shock giving way to curiosity.
Philippe nodded. "To prove that I am worthy of you, I will catch a fat togiculo."
Togiculo was a mystical creature that roamed the fairy lands. It resembles a cow in some ways but was far from ordinary. It stood taller, with a muscular build and long, sinewy legs that allow it to move with surprising speed. Its hide was a deep emerald green, blending perfectly with its grassy home. The togiculo's horns were twisted and shone with a faint magical glow. Its eyes were large and expressive, often changing color with its mood.
Alita's smile widened. "A togiculo you say, I shall be expecting it, Sir Philippe."